‘Sad day’ to be a tree in Orangeville

Down they come

Chris Halliday

Several ‘Save the Trees’ were placed on the front yard of 15 Faulkner St. on Monday (Dec. 17), as the property management company began felling several trees on the property. Town council is considering a tree preservation bylaw, but the future of that is unknown.

Down they come

Chris Halliday

Workers began cutting down several trees at an Orangeville apartment building on Monday (Dec. 17). The Town council is considering a tree preservation bylaw, but the future of that is unknown.

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That was the scenario for some of the town committee members on Monday (Dec. 17), as several trees were being felled at an apartment building at 15 Faulkner St.

With the sound of chainsaws firing heard in the background, and ‘Save the Trees’ signs planted on the front yard, Coun. Sylvia Bradley was among those witnessing the scene unfold from across the street.

“It is a tragedy. The environmental loss of these mature trees is immeasurable,” sighed Bradley, chair of OSAT. “It is a sad day today that we’re going to lose potentially a large number of trees.”

To start the day, there were about 25 trees on the property located at 15 Faulkner St. A few sugar maples, several Norway maples, and a fairly large silver maple lined the rear property line, while some white birch, white pine, spruce and some smaller white cedars were seen scattered around the property.

It is not known how many will ultimately be cut down. The apartment building’s tenants have been given notice that workers are scheduled to be there throughout the week.

According to Alan Ricciuto, the building’s property manager, the plan is to cut a few trees down, and play it by ear from there.

“At this stage, we are going to start off with some,” he said. “We will be starting off with a few and we’ll see how it goes.”

It should be noted that the landowner isn’t doing anything wrong, and is not acting in contravention of any municipal rules or regulations. Landowners in Orangeville aren’t prohibited from cutting trees down on their properties.

The event comes at a time when Orangeville council is debating the pros and cons of implementing a tree preservation bylaw.

“If we had a bylaw in place today, this wouldn’t be happening. It is a shame that we don’t have the bylaw,” Bradley said. “This is an example of a situation that we’re trying to address.”

Both Bradley and The Banner received anonymous letters and phone calls from people hoping to see the trees survive. One person — although anonymously for fear of reprisal — claimed it is the property owner’s attempt to preempt the bylaw before it is passed.

According to Ricciuto, that couldn’t be any further from the truth. The trees, which have limbs falling off from them, are being taken down “for safety reasons,” he said.

“I don’t what else to say. It is nothing to do with that (bylaw). That is not the reason why,” Ricciuto said. “I’d just like to keep the property clean and safe. … We’ll be doing a little bit of landscaping and that is about it.”

Under the Municipal Act, Orangeville has the authority to regulate or prohibit the cutting of individual trees in privately owned areas up to one hectare in size.

Landowners needn’t worry though, according to Coun. Jeremy Williams. A bylaw is nowhere near becoming a done deal, nor does it appear a majority of council will jump on board.

“I've heard stories from across Ontario that whenever tree bylaws are discussed, the first thing you hear along with the debate is the sound of chainsaws firing 'just in case,” Williams said in an email. “Sadly, that seems to be right where we are, debating trees over the noise of chainsaws.”

Council members opposing the proposed tree bylaw argue they haven’t noticed people clear cutting Orangeville’s urban forest. Then again, the OSAT proposal may have woken some sleeping landowners.

For example, Orangeville resident Jeff Brown had been considering whether to remove a tree in his backyard for a few years. Once learning about the proposed bylaw, Brown fired up his chainsaw.

“I immediately cut down a 30 (foot) pine tree in my backyard (which I planted) before I had to ask the town for their permission and pay for a permit to do so,” Brown said in an email to The Banner.

A well-drafted bylaw, according to OSAT member Mark Whitcombe, would allow landowners to cut trees requiring maintenance. It could also offer landowners guidelines as to how to protect tenants’ safety, and preserve tree cover at the same time.

“If anything, the bylaw encourages (landowners) to do maintenance and keep those trees going, rather than removing the trees,” Whitcombe said, before referring to the Faulkner Street case. “In my estimation, this is a making up for a lack of ongoing maintenance, by over responding.”

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(1) Comment

By savethetreesplease|DECEMBER 17, 2012 05:16 PM

What a waste to see the biggest tree in town and many more get cut down. Merry Christmas Orangeville enjoy as Faulkner becomes just the start .